Author Mowat loved, loathed
In his nearly 93 years, Farley Mowat was both renowned and reviled, a beloved author and a controversial figure, thanks to his outspoken nature and attitudes about environmental issues.
Mowat was born in Belleville, Ont., in 1921. His family moved in the early 1930s to Saskatoon, where his father worked as chief librarian at the public library.
Mowat wrote more than 40 books during his career, but he got his start in newspaper work.
His first paid writing job came at age 15, writing a bird column for the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
Even then, his wit and environmental activism caused a stir among readers, particularly as a result of his anti-hunting stance and a detailed description of the mating behaviour of the ruddy duck.
The column was cancelled after less than two months.
Mowat served during the Second World War as a platoon commander and intelligence officer. During that time, writing helped him cope with the realities of war. In a National Film Board documentary, he said he retreated into childhood. Those words would eventually become The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be.
His books — which also include Owls in the Family, Never Cry Wolf and A Whale For the Killing — were translated into dozens of languages.
Mowat earned the Governor General’s Literacy Award and the Order of Canada. Eastern Passages, his final book, was published in 2010. An antisealing ship once used by the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is named for the author.
He died in 2014 at age 92 in Port Hope, Ont. A bronze statue of Mowat and his dog Chester was unveiled at the University of Saskatchewan just a few weeks later.
As we celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017, the StarPhoenix and Leader-Post are telling the stories of 150 Saskatchewan people who helped shape the nation. Send your suggestions or feedback to sask150@postmedia.com.